El Gecko 1329 Posted November 26, 2020 I've searched this and other forums but couldn't find a definitive answer: What 10T 32p pinion gears are available for a 380 motor since the shaft is smaller than a 540? The old 380s had their pinions permanently attached, but I recently pulled two 380 motors from a wrecked boat someone gave me, and they seem fast on the bench but I want to see how they do in an actual car under load. What are my options? I have the adapter plate to mount the motor, I just need to find a suitable pinion to mesh with the spur. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wolfdogstinkus 1876 Posted November 26, 2020 You can get a pinion "sleeve" that increases the shaft size to 3.2mm which opens your world to many pinion sizes.. Had to constantly proof read this to check for inaccurate auto-correct. Oooooerrr. Lol 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gazzalene 171 Posted November 26, 2020 5 hours ago, wolfdogstinkus said: You can get a pinion "sleeve" that increases the shaft size to 3.2mm which opens your world to many pinion sizes.. Had to constantly proof read this to check for inaccurate auto-correct. Oooooerrr. Lol Could of been worse, you might of searched for pinion enlarger! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
El Gecko 1329 Posted November 26, 2020 5 hours ago, wolfdogstinkus said: You can get a pinion "sleeve" that increases the shaft size to 3.2mm which opens your world to many pinion sizes.. Had to constantly proof read this to check for inaccurate auto-correct. Oooooerrr. Lol The only sleeves I can find are 5mm to 3.2mm (1/8") reducers. What size is the 380 shaft? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sosidge 624 Posted November 26, 2020 It's a 2.3mm shaft on a 380 motor. Pinions are out there, but maybe not that easy to find in the size you want. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wolfdogstinkus 1876 Posted November 26, 2020 I think it comes with the Tamiya sport tuned 380 motor.. as an upgrade for the T301 or SW01.. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wolfdogstinkus 1876 Posted November 26, 2020 Theres a picture of the part in this link but it's not mentioned in the description. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/402365019111 Found a different description " - Type 370 Sport-Tuned Motor x1 - A brass pipe adapter is included to allow use of the 26T pinion gear from separately sold Item 54228. - Compatible with T3-01 chassis models. Use with Items 54228, 54834, 54857 and 54876. " a brass pipe adapter,, well it's not called a pinion sleeve after all... 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wolfdogstinkus 1876 Posted November 26, 2020 3 hours ago, Gazzalene said: Could of been worse, you might of searched for pinion enlarger! Sounds like you speak from experience. Lol Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
El Gecko 1329 Posted November 26, 2020 Thanks everyone, I did a little more digging and apparently "Tamiya pinion adapter 9804535" is the correct part, although it's out of stock everywhere. Time to start searching precision tubing so I can fabricate one. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gazzalene 171 Posted November 27, 2020 13 hours ago, wolfdogstinkus said: Sounds like you speak from experience. Lol No, Not me! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sosidge 624 Posted November 27, 2020 15 hours ago, wolfdogstinkus said: Theres a picture of the part in this link but it's not mentioned in the description. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/402365019111 Found a different description " - Type 370 Sport-Tuned Motor x1 - A brass pipe adapter is included to allow use of the 26T pinion gear from separately sold Item 54228. - Compatible with T3-01 chassis models. Use with Items 54228, 54834, 54857 and 54876. " a brass pipe adapter,, well it's not called a pinion sleeve after all... A 370 is a different size to a 380, and has a smaller shaft (2mm). 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
treasurectionist 0 Posted November 27, 2020 Hi. Seeing as you are experimenting. I assume will fit, is good enough rather than Tamiya branded Carisma M14 R380 Pinion Gear for 2.3mm motor shaft 12t STANDARD CA14037 | eBay maybe this will do? shows These are the Pinion Gears to fit the M14 range of Carisma Cars or any R380 motors. They will fit 2.3mm Motor shaft and has 48dp / 0.5 module 10t - 11mm long x 6mm dia 12t - 11mm long x 7mm dia 14t - 11mm long x 8mm dia Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
El Gecko 1329 Posted November 27, 2020 50 minutes ago, treasurectionist said: Hi. Seeing as you are experimenting. I assume will fit, is good enough rather than Tamiya branded Carisma M14 R380 Pinion Gear for 2.3mm motor shaft 12t STANDARD CA14037 | eBay maybe this will do? shows These are the Pinion Gears to fit the M14 range of Carisma Cars or any R380 motors. They will fit 2.3mm Motor shaft and has 48dp / 0.5 module 10t - 11mm long x 6mm dia 12t - 11mm long x 7mm dia 14t - 11mm long x 8mm dia Thanks! That one is 48p though and I need 32p. The gear pitch is looking like the limiting factor, because 48p pinions with 2.3mm shaft DO seem to be available. I'm curious how these motors will do, but not curious enough to swap the whole gearbox over to 48p (yet!) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nowinaminute 2813 Posted November 27, 2020 https://tamico.de/navi.php?a=9528&lang=eng Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
El Gecko 1329 Posted November 27, 2020 15 minutes ago, nowinaminute said: https://tamico.de/navi.php?a=9528&lang=eng Thanks, unfortunately I'm in the US and the shipping cost with tamico is too much for me Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nowinaminute 2813 Posted November 27, 2020 1 hour ago, El Gecko said: Thanks, unfortunately I'm in the US and the shipping cost with tamico is too much for me It's a frustratingly tricky situation to what should be a simple problem. I've come across it a lot when trying to change motors in stuff like my Nikko Dictator which uses dual 380 motors. So easy to pop a better motor in but the only option for a pinion is to try and prise the stock press fit ones off the stock motors and fit them to the new motors. They actually used to sell upgrade motors for some of their 380 vehicles but they also came with the pinion press fitted on like the stock Grasshopper motor. Obviously any Nikko with a 540 motor is just as easy to deal with as any other 540 motor, pinions everywhere but for 380s, the struggle is real! The only exception is brushless 380 motors, they come with 3.17mm shafts the same as a 540, probably because they are RC specific motors and it's known that 3.17mm pinions are vastly more common. I have heard you can use the tube from a cheap ballpoint pen to work as a sleeve but the one time I tried it, the pinion seemed to have a lot of wobble/give in it. Maybe I used the wrong type. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mechanic AH 579 Posted November 28, 2020 @El Gecko you might want to check a pinion gear made by Redcat Racing (# RCL-H012). Double-check the measurement of your 380 motor shaft size. https://www.redcatracing.com/products/rcl-h012?variant=30993243111514 You probably can still get it from Amazon. I gambled and ordered this for someone (it comes in a pack of two and I paid $6 US and that includes Prime shipping already). The person had a Tamiya 380 Sport Tuned motor (2.3mm shaft) and I used it when I built her Grasshopper. It fit perfectly and since it was a Grasshopper, the pinion still is fine. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sosidge 624 Posted November 28, 2020 By the way, if the issue is that you have the pinion, but on the wrong motor, you can get pinion pullers (random pic from the internet) I have one on my toolbox, not had a problem with getting a pressed pinion back on (just need to make sure you press from the opposite end of the armature). Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
El Gecko 1329 Posted December 24, 2020 Just to follow up... a 10t 32p pinion gear apparently does NOT exist for a 2.3mm motor shaft. And I refuse to pay $5 for a tiny adapter that I could make out of a piece of scrap aluminum leftover from the rain gutters on the house. So I dug around my box and found an old 10t brass pinion that fits a normal 540 motor shaft, and made my own adapter sleeve. It's a press fit, and I was able to tighten the set screw so it doesn't move at all. At first, it was making a ton of noise, but after filing the knackered teeth on the pinion, everything fits properly, and the 380 boat motor works perfect and runs smooth! I installed it on the bRat instead of the old clapped out 540, and with the low gearing, it accelerates quicker, has enough torque to drift on dry pavement (partially thanks to bald tires, but the old motor couldn't drift), and while the top speed is pretty lacking, it's also faster than I expected. Runtime is off the charts Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mechanic AH 579 Posted December 24, 2020 Glad you were able to make it work . I know I posted about the redcat pinion but wasn't sure if it was helpful or interested you so I didn't bother to further check. I looked at it today and it already comes with two sleeves for 2.3 shafts. If ever you find your pinion/custom sleeve having issues, I still would consider the one I recommended—it comes with 2 brass 10T/32P gears, 2 set screws, and 2 brass sleeves to make it work with 2.3 shafts. Not bad for $6 considering the quantity/parts and quality. Once installed I don't recall hearing or having issues with the 380 Sport Tuned. Attaching pics of the leftover spares for reference (in case others are looking for the same solution). 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
El Gecko 1329 Posted December 24, 2020 16 hours ago, Mechanic AH said: Glad you were able to make it work . I know I posted about the redcat pinion but wasn't sure if it was helpful or interested you so I didn't bother to further check. I looked at it today and it already comes with two sleeves for 2.3 shafts. If ever you find your pinion/custom sleeve having issues, I still would consider the one I recommended—it comes with 2 brass 10T/32P gears, 2 set screws, and 2 brass sleeves to make it work with 2.3 shafts. Not bad for $6 considering the quantity/parts and quality. Once installed I don't recall hearing or having issues with the 380 Sport Tuned. Attaching pics of the leftover spares for reference (in case others are looking for the same solution). Thanks for the pic, the description in the link didn't say anything about sleeves, and the holes on the gears looked too big in the pics. Knowing that they come with sleeves, I think that's a good option and I'll keep it in mind for the future! (I did find them on Amazon by the way--thanks again!) 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites